Newsletter of the Land for Wildlife Scheme Tasmania Volume 4: December 2002 Contact details: Land for Wildlife Support Officer Ph: (03) 6233 2852, Fax: (03) 6224 0884 Post: GPO Box 44 Hobart 7001 Email: [email protected] ISSN 1442-942X Land for Wildlife News

Contents

From the Coordinator ...... 2

Displaying Your Land for Wildlife Sign...... 2

Tasmania’s Threatened Plants...... 3

Foxes in Tasmania ...... 4

Landscape versus Remnants ...... 5

Lichens...... 7

Profile - Andy Baird ...... 8

Collecting Your Own Seed ...... 9

Quiz Answers...... 10

Books, Reports & Websites ...... 11

Extension Officers ...... 12

Land for Wildlife: Vision, Mission and Goals ...... 12

Courses, Field Days & Events ...... 12 Perameles gunnii, the eastern barred bandicoot is one of Tasmania’s threatened animal species. The recently introduced fox is a real threat to our native animals, especially those that are ground- dwelling. See article, page 4, Foxes in Tasmania Photo: Nigel Richardson

The Land for Wildlife Scheme in Tasmania is delivered through Greening Australia (Tasmania) DEPARTMENT of PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, Inc, the Tasmanian Landcare Association, The Cradle Coast Authority and the Department of WATER and ENVIRONMENT Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Displaying your From the Coordinator Land for Wildlife Sign This information is provided to Welcome to Land for Wildlife News No. 4 and I assist you with the display and care trust that you are enjoying the summer months. of your Land for Wildlife sign. The In this edition we examine some of the lesser sign serves as a symbol to others of beings of the bush, continue our series on your concern for the management Tasmania’s threatened plants and meet another of of your property and in the the Land for Wildlife Extension Officers. There is recognition of your commitment, also a very handy article on collecting and storing through Land for Wildlife native seed and we look at the most recent threat registration, to the integration of to Tasmania’s wildlife, foxes. Also, with the wildlife habitat with other uses of your property. The sign is imminent implementation of the Natural displayed at your discretion. There is no obligation on Resource Management Framework, it is very members to display the sign. However, we encourage you to timely to examine the issue of how we go about do so. nature conservation management. The feature Visibility: article, Landscapes versus Remnants, which contexts nature conservation history with a new Points to consider include: ‘landscape’ approach to nature conservation, stems • Weight of the sign. from the recently released book by Stephen Platt • Maximum visibility. called How to plan wildlife landscapes. Stephen’s • Visibility at speed. book is reviewed in a new section of the Land for • Direct sunlight will cause faster fading. Wildlife News called Books, Reports and Web Safety: Sites. • Place the sign where it will not be an obstruction. Update • Fix the sign securely on a solid structure. /damage: Land for Wildlife and the other conservation programs on private land are starting to make a • Keep out of reach. Set the sign back 5m from the property real difference with over 50,000 hectares secured boundary where possible. between the 3 private land programs! Overall, • Burr off any nuts or screws or use safety (one way) screws. there has been little conscious planning about the • Avoid creating a ‘target’. configuration of this land in the landscape due to a Fixing options: number of factors including for example, being constrained to priority forest communities and the • Avoid attaching with metals that will rust and can damage Land for Wildlife Scheme being largely driven by the sign. enthusiastic landholder requests to join the Attached to a post: scheme. • Set back from fence on a treated pine post. Hopefully this is about to improve as Land for Attached to a fence: Wildlife is developing a partnership with the two • Place rubber spacers between sign and fence. conservation covenant programs with an objective • Fix at all corners. of using a mix of the schemes in key areas to protect for example, a whole valley floor. This Attached to a tree (not the best option): obviously requires a more pro-active and strategic • Avoid girdling the tree which can cause its death. approach. • Needs to account for growth and decortication (bark loss). In another exciting development, one of our Land Care: for Wildlife members, with the support of his Commercial polishes, such as car polish and wax, can be used neighbouring Land for Wildlifers is trying to to rejuvenate an old sign or protect a new one. purchase and covenant surrounding land that will otherwise be cleared and converted to plantation. The Bush Blocks Project reflects the landscape approach to nature conservation and is discussed in more detail in the Landscapes versus Remnants article. Sean Cadman Land for Wildlife Coordinator

Phone: (03) 6336 5419 Please note that the Land for Wildlife sign may not be used for any purpose without Email: [email protected] the written authorisation of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Email forum and general enquiries: Environment. Land for Wildlife signs remain the property of the Department and are provided free of charge to registered members of the Land for Wildlife scheme [email protected] (Tasmania).

Page 2 Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 TTasmania’asmania’ss ThrThreatenedeatened PlantsPlants Davies’ wax flower Lycopoid everlasting Wally’s Wattle

Davies’ wax flower Phebalium davies Bill Brown Davies’ wax flower is only found in Tasmania and is restricted to 3 naturally Wally’s Wattle Acacia pataczekii Lycopoid everlasting occurring patches along 4.5km of the Ozothamnus lycopodioides Threatened Species Unit George River near St Helens. These Threatened Species Unit patches are very small – totalling an area of only 10 x 30 m or 0.03 ha! This endemic plant is restricted to This tall woody shrub or small dry sclerophyll forest on tree which can grow up to 6 The species was thought to be extinct, Tasmania’s east coast and is found metres high was named after it’s until 55 individual plants were in several state reserves as well as discoverer, Wally Pataczekii, a rediscovered in the early 1990s. on private property. However, it is Forester who found the plant in Unfortunately this number has declined locally common on the rocky the early 1970s. to only 23 individual plants and has slopes along the Prosser River prompted an to re-establish this It is a fairly distinctive plant with near Orford. Individual numbers its bluish-green leathery foliage. species in recent years using propagated are reported to be more than material. These patches, containing just The ‘leaves’ of this plant are 680,000 in this area alone! over 220 individual plants in 2001, may actually phyllodes or flattened leaf eventually extend the distribution of The lycopoid everlasting is a stalks which for all intents and this species when fully established and slender much branched shrub purposes, act as leaves. The most self-perpetuating. growing between 50-100cm tall. notable feature of the phyllode The leathery leaves which which is 2-5cm long, is the Davies’ wax flower is a shrub or small presence of a small conspicuous tree which grows up to 5 metres tall that measure only 5-7mm long, don’t have a stalk and overlap each oval gland on the upper leaf grows along river banks. It flowers margin 2-4mm from the base. between late September and mid other. They are also quite sticky. January with seed developing from The white flower heads occur in It is endemic to Tasmania and is January to February. Major regeneration dense clusters of 10-12 individual mostly restricted to dry events seem to be associated with fire flowers at the ends of the sclerophyll forest in the north- and floods. branches. Each flower contains a east of Tasmania. In these areas it characteristic daisy-like structure, may dominate the understorey, The leaves are fine, 2 to 3 cm long, being comprised of 18-24 tiny which can be grassy, heathy or widening at the end and are distinctly florets. shrubby. bi-lobed (2 ‘points’). They are dark green on top and silvery underneath. This species has wind dispersed This species occurs mainly on The small, cream flowers are in clusters seeds which will colonise bare private land although there are 2- of 5 to 8 flowers with long stamens that ground. In some situations it has 3 populations reserved in Ben protrude from the flower. regenerated prolifically after fire Lomond National Park. There is and in others, regeneration has also one outlying population in Davies’ wax flower is unreserved, failed altogether. It does not suffer the Gravelly Ridge Conservation although a conservation covenant is in adverse impacts from grazing as it Area in the south-eastern place on one property title to protect is unpalatable to livestock. Midlands. the species. It is listed as endangered under both the Threatened Species It is listed as rare under the It is listed as rare under the Protection Act 1995 and under the Threatened Species Protection Act Threatened Species Protection Act Commonwealth’s Environment Protection 1995 but is not listed by the 1995 but is not listed by the and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Commonwealth under the Commonwealth under the due to its low numbers, restricted Environment Protection and Environment Protection and distribution and continuing decline. Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Page 3 Foxes in Tasmania

Why worry about foxes? showed the skin and the carcase From searching and reports of releases, it is believed that there may Foxes have been devastating for were closely related and therefore extremely unlikely to be animals be less than 30 foxes in Tasmania, Australia. Tasmania, with its concentrated in three broad hotspots abundant food and mosaic of shot elsewhere on mainland Australia. There have been other – Burnie, the northern and southern pasture, woodlands, marshes, hedges Midlands. and gorse is also considered to be droppings and lambkills – very likely ideal for this adaptable species to from foxes. Some very credible What does eradication mean? flourish. If they become fully sighting reports also exist. Eradication means getting rid of all established in Tasmania they could foxes. All foxes must be put at risk peak at 300,000 individuals (even We cannot ignore this balance of and the pest must be killed at a rate more than feral cats!) and . . . faster than replacement. Immigration should also be zero; no • Devastate wildlife, especially the Some facts about foxes in more foxes – ever! So far, there is no species left here now because Tasmania: proof of breeding, meaning there is a foxes have pushed them to great chance to beat this pest. extinction on mainland • In 2001, 2 were shot near Australia. Longford How can foxes be eradicated? • Take up to 30% of lambs costing • Fox foot prints/tracks Everyone can help. Promptly report millions per year in stock killed confirmed sightings and other evidence to the and fox control. • Scats (dung) have been found Fox-Free Taskforce via the Fox • Ruin some of our rapidly from Burnie and now Hotline (1300 369 688 or 1300 developing wildlife tourism Campania indicating fox FOXOUT). If a sure shot at a fox industry. presence can be taken – do it, but please let • Take away some of what makes • Reliable sightings from all 3 the taskforce know immediately. Tasmania special and denting our locations Although foxes are naturally wary clean, green image. • Lambkills in Campania, and cunning, they are not • Spread diseases such as hydatids. Longford and possibly Burnie invincible. The key is patience and that look very much like persistence using the best methods. We need everyone, especially foxes were the cause – Detecting foxes at low densities is people on the land, on the look identified by teeth marks in out for foxes. difficult and unreliable – a few can There is a 24 hour hotline carcasses easily be missed. Therefore 1300 369 688 • In 2002 a controlled fox eradication must be applied over all or 1300 FOXOUT baiting program was areas where foxes likely exist. No Phone asap if you sight a fox. instigated in Campania and Longford. Haven’t foxes been in Tasmania Continued on page 5 before so why the fuss now? The odd fox has indeed been released in Tasmania (the first in 1864 for hunting) but they usually have been quickly killed. Probably, Tasmania has been lucky - single foxes dying before another joined them. Tasmanian devils may also have helped by giving stiff competition for foxes and even predating on pups. However, devils are not common everywhere and can only help so much. What proof is there of foxes and how many are there? Footprints and droppings from different places have been confirmed. There is a skin and a whole carcase of shot adults. The carcase had a species only found in Tasmania, half-digested in its gut - very strong evidence that the animal was wild in Tasmania. DNA analysis Native animals such as bandicoots, are vulnerable to the fox

Page 4 Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 LLaannddssccaappeess vveerrssuuss RReemmnnaannttss

A couple of months ago I received a first a haphazard affair with a strong Both national parks and State forest new book by Stephen Platt – one of focus on scenic preservation and were largely confined to areas where the leading figures in the national recreation. Tasmania’s first reserve agriculture and urbanisation were Land for Wildlife movement. The management body was the Scenery not so easily pursued. Highly fertile book, How to plan wildlife landscapes Preservation Board with Mt Field land in Australia was, and still is, a resonated very strongly with a National Park being one of the first rare commodity so these landscapes number of emerging concepts in parks reserved in Australia. have suffered disproportionately in nature conservation planning. This In a parallel development, State the pursuit of agricultural land. book is reviewed in a new section of forests became established. The early However as modern agricultural this newsletter, Books, Reports and foresters recognised that forestry science developed, particularly with Web Sites on page 11. could not be sustained if growth the use of phosphate-based fertilisers While the historical background to rates and regeneration ecology were and trace elements, the boundaries nature conservation reservation is not heeded, especially in the climate of agriculture expanded. This led to probably not new to many Land for of the day where there was extensive massive conversions of previously Wildlifers it is always worth clearing of land for agriculture. non-arable Crown land to freehold reflecting on where we have come and pastoral lease. Soldier from. settlement after World War II was one of the major drivers of clearing At the beginning of the 20th century, more marginal landscapes. it was realised that ‘landscapes’ were a non-replaceable commodity. By the 1960s the wilderness movement, born in the USA, Following on from this were the arrived in Australia with the beginnings of recognisable national Collong Foundation for Wilderness park movements in Australia and Scenery elsewhere, particularly the USA. Preservation The declaration of reserves was at Board logo Continued on page 6

Continued from page 4 single method will deal with all two evils’ – targeted 1080 fox baiting • A standard, low dose of 1080 in foxes but we do need something that for a while or foxes forever. baits. exposes a maximum of foxes to risk, • How and where baits are laid Mainland experience shows clearly has minimal effects on non-target (baits are buried 15cm deep in that 1080 poison is the only species and is safe for people, places foxes are likely to visit). practical choice for large-scale fox allowing its wide use. • Warning people (especially about control. Backed by other methods dogs) by signs and other specific Although hunters have shot two such as shooting it can lead to notification. foxes so far, shooting alone can not eradication, especially of small, • Geographical limits to baiting eradicate foxes. However, any dead isolated populations. Compared to (initially in and around hotspots foxes may be the key to disrupting other poisons, 1080 has many as large buffers). breeding. Local detection and advantages stemming from it having • Frequency of baiting sessions (3 shooting therefore remains very been in some Australian plants (as a per year targeting winter, pupping important. natural chemical defence) for many and dispersal). thousands of years. Why poison? • Monitoring of baiting and its Poisoning has proved essential in fox The fox baiting program effects (especially on non-target control on mainland Australia Many things will be used to fine wildlife). because the method can cover very tune the fox baiting to target foxes • Feedback to baiting program large areas, works 24 hours a day and and avoid problems. from monitoring (improving can be tailored to target foxes. After techniques). • Baits will only be laid on all, it is best not to harm non-target properties with owner’s For more information about foxes, species and baits must be there for permission. the fox eradication program and its foxes. • Type of bait (40g pieces of dried use of 1080 baiting in Tasmania, Although 1080 is contentious in meat and manufactured Foxoff). contact 1300 761 080. Tasmania mainly due to its use • Density of baits (single baits will Nick Mooney against native animals and its effect be layed in stations at 5-10 per Senior Wildlife Officer on dogs, its use against foxes is a km2). Nature Conservation Branch different issue. Unfortunately, • Baits replacement time (baits will Department of Primary Industries, Tasmania is faced with the ‘lesser of be left for 3 weeks unless eaten). Water and Environment

Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Page 5 Continued from page 5 life of the Trust all the natural environment indicators being the first organisation with except air quality have gone the big picture focus – even if at backwards (as reported by this stage it was limited to the National State of Blue Mountains! This heralded Environment reporting). Our an important development as current planning systems, reservation focused on a concept which are compartmentalised with a broad, popular appeal. It by tenure, local government also coincided with the beginning planning schemes and even of the mining boom, a rapid by some land uses are poorly expansion in timber extraction equipped to respond to the and in Tasmania, put need for maintaining conservation on a collision course functioning whole landscapes. with hydroelectric power development. The conservation Hopefully the new Regional of wilderness in Australia, and Natural Resource especially Tasmania, made a huge Management Framework (see contribution to the protection of Land for Wildlife News No. biodiversity but it was not the 3) offers a mechanism to plan principal focus of the movement “Landscapes’ include hills, valleys and entire river catchments strategically so that the at that time. Landscape is the idea around which resource distribution and land use Another great idea that arose in the all the historical conservation decisions required to maintain early 1970s was the concept of themes can be unified. This is very landscapes rather than remnants can ‘heritage’. Spurred on by the loss of well demonstrated by two big picture be made. Land for Wildlife will be Lake Pedder, Gough Whitlam set up projects. The Wildlands Project in an essential part of any solution to the Australian Heritage Commission North America and the Wild ensure this happens. to oversee an Australian Register of Country Project now running in There is also a demonstrated the National . This also Australia. See Books, Reports and willingness by some in Tasmania to reflected growing concerns Web Sites on page 11 for the web site embrace these ideas and for one internationally about the impact of address. Interestingly these projects Land for Wildlife member, this has human activity on species extinction have not come from government but developed into an exciting and broad-scale environmental from coalitions of scientists and initiative. Paul Dimmick who lives degradation. non-government conservation in the south of the State at organisations. The engagement of As the scale and pace of Lucaston, with the support of his private landowners with these environmental degradation became neighbouring Land for Wildlifers has projects has been identified as readily measurable, firstly using decided to try to raise enough money aerial photography and then satellite critical to their success. to purchase and covenant and computer technology, the need The Natural Heritage Trust has surrounding land that otherwise to deal with conservation on private operated under a noble set of would be cleared and converted to land became very obvious. objectives but has tended to focus on plantation. About 12 Lucaston properties are already registered as In 1981, not long after the management works which seldom have been undertaken within a Land for Wildlife and most of those Australian Heritage Commission are either covenanted or in the was founded, the Land for Wildlife sound strategic planning and/or process of having covenants applied. Scheme which focussed on institutional framework. During the Currently, about 4km2 is protected at voluntary conservation on private Lucaston. Paul’s Lucaston Bush land, became established in Victoria. LUCASTON Blocks Project may add another The 1980s saw some of the biggest BUSH BLOCKS 3km2. (Note: this doesn’t mean that wins for conservation in Australian DPIWE is endorsing the project.) history. However, it wasn’t until the PROJECT This type of initiative is going to be 1990s when ironically via the forest People who would like to get debate, that serious attention was involved financially or would like vital in the future for securing land given to a holistic, science-based to purchase a block can register in order to maintain landscapes. By approach to reservation and wildlife their expression of interest making a formal commitment to conservation. While one could argue electronically or by post to nature conservation by joining one the merits of this approach, the Lucaston Bush Blocks, of the schemes, landowners, concept of dealing with whole C/- Paul Dimmick especially those working together, Post Office Box 168 can collectively moderate or change landscapes in order to tackle Huonville 7109 biodiversity loss, land degradation surrounding land uses. and their associated problems has Full details are on the web at Sean Cadman come of age. www.bushblocks.com. Land for Wildlife Coordinator

Page 6 Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Occasional Series on the ‘lesser beings’ Awareness of the ‘lesser beings’ in the forest is something that the conservation movement endeavours to raise in many of its activities. This article presents the first in this series, focusing on lichens. Lichens – an overlooked part of our environment Lichens occupy an important position not only in the flora of Tasmania, but also in the social history of our species. They have been a part of much of our lives for centuries, yet are rarely recognised for the roles they have and continue to play. But what is a lichen? upper trunks of trees are usually dominated by green Lichens are a complex organism composed of a mutually folicose lichens, the nitrogen fixing ones previously beneficial association between fungi and algae. This mentioned. In the oldest forest trees such as the myrtles symbiotic relationship sees the algae producing food for there are distinct wet-dry sides that host quite different the fungus by photosynthesis in exchange for other species. Wet sides are dominated by fruticose tufted nutrients obtained from the fungus. The nutrients are lichen genus Sphaerophorus while the dry sides are predominantly available from rainwater and the air commonly rich in small inconspicuous crustose species (lichens from the genera such as Lecanactis abietina and Chaenotheca brunneola. Pseudo-cyphellaria, Psoroma and Nephroma all Eucalypts in contrast are poor hosts for lichens, except in have blue-green algae some highland woodlands. Unstable or seasonally shed which also enables them bark is mostly unsuitable, and the lichens in eucalypt forests are usually situated on the understorey trees such to fix atmospheric as the musk (Olearia argophylla), dolly bush (Cassinia nitrogen). However some aculeata), dogwood (Pomaderris apetala) and Acacia species can exploit the species. Indeed in most sclerophyll forests, the richest host rock for nutrients by habitats for lichens are rocks and soil. penetrating such rocks as schists, utilising carbon But it is the more practical uses of lichens that first dioxide from the lichen brought them to my awareness. respiration to form weak Old Mans Beard Ursnea sp. As a young boy growing up in NSW I acids that etch the rock, had the pleasure of collecting bags of releasing the nutrients to then be available for the Old Mans Beard (and other lichens) lichen. from fence posts and old timber railing Tasmania is home to approximately 750 named lichen across the high country around Tumut species, of over 13,500 known species in the world. and the Snowy Mountains. My mother Interestingly only about 5% of the Tasmanian lichen in turn used the lichen to hand dye flora is endemic, in contrast to the flowering plants and wool in the most amazing and surprising colours: pale conifers of which about 20% are endemic. Reasons for red, grape, burgundy, and purple colours amongst them. this include the general antiquity and slow evolutionary Lichen dyes were in fact a principle source of dye colour change of the lichens and their relatively efficient for the Scottish woollen industry in the eighteenth- dispersal. century. Scottish tartans are based on the colours In Tasmania, the lichens occur in all the major obtained from lichens. Scottish cudbear and Norwegian vegetation types but the rainforests are their stronghold. korje are two popular eighteenth century lichen dyes. Lichens are the most diverse group of plants present in Indeed so popular was the use of lichen that in 1856, the Tasmanian rainforest, with a myriad of microclimates that William Lauder Lindsay, a Scottish physician and available. For example, a single tree is analogous to an lichenologist from Perth (Scot.), wrote that the over entire landscape of vegetation and indeed more than harvesting of lichen for the woollen industry had led to seventy different species of lichen have been recorded the importation of umbilicate lichens from Norway. This from a single Huon pine tree. implied that the Scottish highlands were suffering from over harvesting! Of particular interest Lichens are divided into various types were the species Ochrolechia tartarea, according to growth form: crustose being Lichens – were the subject Lasallia pustulata and Umbilicaria leprose thin and flat, being powdery, torrefacta. O. tartarea when used alone folicose flat and leaf-like, filamentous of a lucrative, as a dye produces a crimson but with resembling cotton wool, fruticose shrubby international trade! the addition of Lasallia shifts the colour or pendulous, squamulous with tiny leaf- to magenta and with the addition of like scales and placodioid appearing Umbilicaria to rose. crustose at the centre and minutely lobed at the margins. Lichens on twigs are predominately crustose, although With the rise of the petro-chemical dyes the use of the fruticose Old Mans Beard (Ursnea sp.) may also be lichens and other natural dyes was effectively relegated abundant in the forest canopy. Lichens on branches are to the hand craft industry. usually brightly coloured such as the common crustose species Pertusaria truncata. In contrast lichens on the Continued on page 8

Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Page 7 Profile – A Chat with Andy Baird Land for Wildlife Extension Officer, Far South Where and when were you born? India and as a Landcare and I was born in Sydney in 1965. Environmental Action Program coordinator. How long have you worked in the Land for Wildlife Programme Wow, you certainly have had a Andy? busy and exciting life! – I suppose Four years- since its inception in your hobbies and interests include Tasmania. things like parachuting and rock climbing . . . And what are the things you enjoy Not quite! I’m currently building a Andy Baird with Lily Sassafras most about your work? straw bale/mud brick/timber clad house Well, the main things I love about my significance related to owls and in the bush at Nicholls Rivulet for our death/birth . . . My experience with work are the opportunity to wander family . . . This is a rather large project bush remnants on private land not owls seems to have played out that way that seems to be consuming all my also. otherwise accessible, the chance to yarn ‘spare time’. I’ve also been heavily to folk about the wonderful flora and involved in a human organization Wow, that’s interesting I’d like to fauna in this part of the world, sharing - Australia Tibet Council - serving as hear more about that sometime! On the excitement of our unique wildlife, Tasmanian Branch Secretary for a different note, what is your and a chance to make a difference in several years. I am also on the favourite quote or saying? how our natural environment is management board of a community “If by searching, the searcher of the regarded and looked after. school called Peregrine of which I was a search be sought and not found, founding member. thereupon the goal of the search is Which area of Tassie do you work reached and also the end of the search in? Finally I have recently completed the itself”. The far south, so everything south of Nicholls Rivulet Rivercare Plan which I Hobart . . . I’m still trying to think of a hope will see our small neck of the Padma Sambhava from The Tibetan way to justify a Bushcare trip to woods retain and improve its Book of the Great Liberation Maatsuyker Island! biodiversity and integrate land It’s a great little piece of profound What other types of work have you management practices appropriately. confusion for me to contemplate! done in your life so far, and what Yes, I’ve seen a copy of the And to finish up is there anything qualifications did you need to land a Nicholls Rivulet Rivercare Plan, else of interest that you would like job as a Land for Wildlife Officer? and it’s very good! I also can’t wait to tell me about yourself? I have a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma to see the straw bale house when it I live with my partner, Julia, a yoga of Education, and a Workplace Trainer is completed! So, to get back to teacher (and lots more!), a daughter, Cat 2. Land for Wildlife matters . . . What Lily-Sassafras and son, Tashi I’ve worked in a number of different is your favourite native Tasmanian (deceased). I escaped from Sydney fields, including, as an environmental animal? about 12 years ago to settle in Tasmania activist; a high school science/maths The platypus . . . as an adolescent I for a lifestyle that is closer to the teacher; a youth worker; as a researcher once spent a year of weekends on the environment that I love and treasure. in Antarctica, (working on ice valley mainland cycling about NSW looking Thanks Andy, and that must be the formations as early indicators for global for platypus in the wild, only to find beautiful Lily-Sassafras in the warming and collecting base data on them eventually swimming about in photo! marine retreats in the Vestfold hills); as broad daylight at a place called ‘Platy- Interview by a researcher in Scotland working on pus Pools’ in a State Forest. Brilliantly Holly Hansen potatoes; an environmental educator bizarre animals! Into owls as well . . Land for Wildlife Extension Officer with the Tibetan Government in exile in There’s loads of mythological/spiritual East Coast and Tasman Peninsula

Continued from page 7 look beyond the beautiful leaves of the Lichens were used as myrtle or the magnificent Huon pine to Lichens have also had an important use antiseptics in the first the little hangers on, the lichens. as an antiseptic. In the First World War Thanks to Dr Gintaras Kantvilas, soldiers used Ursnea species packed into world war! Coordinating Curator Science, the wound before the introduction of Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian penicillin saw this practice phased out. Aboriginal Museum and Art Gallery for assistance with this article. people also used lichen for similar purposes. In addition, some species of lichens are particularly sensitive to Further information: atmospheric conditions and these have been used as Kantvilas, G. and S.J. Jarman, (1999) Lichens of rainforest pollution indicators, in particular to detect sulphur in Tasmania & south-eastern Australia. Australian dioxide, wind blown fertilizers and for measuring Biological Resources Study, Canberra. radioactive fallout. Andy Baird So when your next wandering the bush, train your eye to Land for Wildlife Extension Officer, Far South

Page 8 Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Collecting your own seed – a simple guide

As the weather in our gorgeous state • Isn’t it annoying when you leave warms up, and we venture outside the ordering of your plants a little more and more to soak up our daily too late, and your local nursery dose of vitamin D, it’s also a good has sold out of that one particular time to think about next year’s species that you really wanted for planting. Although this may sound your project (although obviously terribly organized – planning and a good project site will have a preparing for this activity in advance diversity of species!). Well, if you can potentially provide you with the have collected your own seed, plants you need for a successful, this ought not to be a problem. habitat-friendly planting. Summer is • Using locally collected seed will the best time to collect seed so that actually improve the chances of it can be germinated for the next your seedlings surviving. Locally season’s plantings – or if need be, collected native plants are stored for future years. adapted to the area where the Seed collection can be a fun and seed was collected from, for rewarding activity, something that example they may be more frost all the family can enjoy! There are tolerant, if frosts are a problem in many good reasons why it is a great your area. idea to collect your own seed - below Before you set out on your big day are just a few: seed collecting, there are a couple of Hakea lissosperma pods can be collected almost all • To please those nagging Bushcare things, which need to be done first. year round Officers who are always going on Obviously, if you are collecting seed Nick Fitzgerald about ‘local provenance’ species. on someone else’s land (this may include farmers, Councils, Hydro following list may help you plan your By this we mean that it is best to collections more efficiently. plant trees and understorey etc), you must obtain permission to species that are native to your do so. Often a phone call to the land • Sensible shoes (sounds like local area – hence adapted to manager will be sufficient. Also, so something my Granny wears!) as you don’t waste time on the day, local conditions and best suited and work clothes, including a hat decide what seed you really need to to your site. This practice also and sunscreen – seed collecting is collect – there is no point is a great way to work on that maintains the genetic diversity of spending half a day collecting seed plants in your area. This may be a farmers tan, you know the look, from a wet gully, if you are planning brown arms, white chest! very important factor for survival on planting out a dry north facing of different species if there is a slope. • Loppers, secateurs, pruning saw, change in future environmental extendable pole with an attached Not all seed ripens at the same time. conditions. Simply put, if you saw etc. collect seed from plants in your Keep this in mind when planning area then you are sure to be your trips – several sorties to the • Pen and paper for recording planting local provenance bush may be needed – although details such as plant species, species, and in your own way, you heading out over summer, starting in location of collection, local will be contributing to the December will increase your chances conditions and date. of collecting a diversity of seed. If at survival of our native plants in • Field ID book, if you think you the long term. all possible, try collecting several times over the summer. Even a few need help identifying the species. • Collecting your own seed and hours spent collecting should • Water and some tasty snacks or a germinating it is much cheaper provide you with a good amount of picnic lunch – it is the festive than buying seed or seedlings. seed. Fortunately, some plants retain season after all. Some seed species sell for up to their seed rather than dropping it several hundred dollars per kilo. when it ripens. Such seed can be • Something to store your seed in. (Ahhh, I see you are paying collected almost any time of year. Preferably not plastic bags, as the attention now!) You may even be Plants with woody fruit such as seed needs to breathe and will go able to sell what you collect to bottlebrushes (Callistemon), tea-tree mouldy in plastic. For small seeds local nurseries or seed suppliers. (Leptospermum) and hakea usually old envelopes or paper bags are Small packets of native seed hold on to their seed. great, for larger seeds old super make great presents for friends bags or wool packs are fine. too! While it is possible to collect some seed with just a pair of secateurs, you • A tarpaulin can be very useful to • Collecting seed is a great way of will be able to collect a greater spread on the ground and catch learning about the native plants diversity of seed if you take some seed as it falls. and ecosystem in your area. extra equipment with you. The Continued on page 10

Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Page 9 Continued from page 9

• A ladder will enable you to gain access to limbs which are a long way off Answers to the the ground, although if you are planning on being this adventurous make sure you take a mate to assist you. Quiz in Issue 3 Once you have spotted the plants you are intending to collect seed from, it is 1. False necessary to check that the seed is not only ripe, but also viable. Use your 2. True common sense here. Seed is usually unripe when it is green, so if it is brown or grey, and feels hard and dry it should be ripe. If you are collecting from a 3. Australian dragonfly plant that produces berries, the berry will be soft and have changed colour. 4. None – all 3 species give Some plants will produce seeds with wings or hair to enable the seed to float birth to live young away and disperse; others will look ready to pop open, or may already have 5. Eastern barred bandicoot opened. (Perameles gunnii) Viable seed tends to be plump and regularly shaped. 6. 1,120,000 Check that the capsules actually contain seed, as insects are also out 7. Pigeon collecting at the same time as you, and it is possible that you may collect 8. Silk worm empty seed husks. It is usually possible to see the presence of insect damage through small holes or webs in the husk. 9. One third On the day, you will usually collect the seed capsules, fruit or husk, which 10. Sassafras; the bark was used may contain hundreds of seeds. Once you have taken these home, it will be to make beer necessary to extract the seed from the capsule or fruit. This is a relatively simple process. Most seed will simply drop out if the fruit is dried. Some species require heat – for specific advice, contact your local Bushcare/Land for Wildlife Officer. To dry the fruit, spread it out thinly on tin trays (paper will do if that is all you have). Keep it somewhere warm and dry and preferably away from children, dogs, birds and rodents. The seed will pop out from within a few days to a few weeks, depending on the species. You can speed the process up by shaking the trays every few days. It is more difficult to extract seed from fleshy fruits and berries and specific advice should be sought on the best technique for these. A sieve can be used to separate most seeds from the old The eastern barred bandicoot has a gestation period capsules or husks, once they have popped out. of only 12 days Nigel Richardson Once seed has been extracted and dried, it will need to be stored. Any airtight container will do, however it is important to ensure that the seed is totally dry. If the seed is to be stored for a long time, mothballs can be place in the bag to keep pesky critters away. Keep the seed in a cool, dark place STOP PRESS: The Protected such as a cupboard, Areas on Private Land (Coven- and if you have anting) Program has just been young children funded for another year. Interested make sure they can’t Land for Wildlife landowners should access it. take up the opportunity over the next 12 months as this service may This article gives a not be available for free in the very condensed future. Contact Jo Edwards on (03) version of seed 6233 6210 if you would like to collection, for know more. further information on seed collection and storage Have you sold or are you techniques there are thinking of selling your Land lots of good books for Wildlife property? available, or contact your local Bushcare If you sell your Land for Wildlife Officer. property, please inform the Land for Wildlife Coordinator or Holly Hansen Support Officer. We can then Bushcare and Land alter the database. for Wildlife Officer South East region The Land for Wildlife sign is the property of DPIWE and needs Billardaria longifolia drupe to be returned or picked up. Nick Fitzgerald

Page 10 Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Books, Reports and Web Sites

We are now on the look out for interesting, relevant How to plan wildlife landscapes a guide for community publications and web sites. If you come across any that organisations (2002) you feel may be useful to other Land for Wildlifers Stephen Platt, Department of Natural Resources and the then please contact us (see front cover for details). Environment, Victoria Wildlife Gardening Book Hatching Soon This guidebook, written in Peter Grant, Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmania plain language, covers the Parks & Wildlife’s Senior Interpretation Officer, Peter main principles of landscape Grant, has recently completed the manuscript for a planning for native wildlife gardening book. Tentatively called “The Habitat biodiversity. It outlines the Garden”, the book will fit into the new ABC Gardening principles used in planning Australia series. This fully illustrated book covers the for conservation of native general principles involved in creating a wildlife friendly wildlife at a landscape scale garden anywhere in Australia, and should be suitable for such as a neighbourhood, or both urban and rural gardens. part of a catchment. It will be useful for community Topics covered organisations and individuals include: planning who want to understand how your garden; to act more strategically to attracting birds; protect and restore wildlife attracting landscapes. Chapters include invertebrates; visions of landscape, managing pests; landscape design principles and developing an action watching your plan. water; propagating native plants; the How to get a copy . . . water garden; The guide is available on the web www.nre.vic.gov.au gardening in (select the Conservation and Environment theme, then difficult zones; and Living Systems, Publications). where to see native plants in Copies are also available from NRE’s Information Centre, public gardens telephone (03) 9637 8325 at a cost of $16 plus postage around Australia. and handling. Email: [email protected] The book is full of “How to Plan Wildlife Landscapes” has been produced by tables, lists and the Living Systems project, a project jointly funded by illustrations to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment help the reader (Vic) and the Natural Heritage Trust. adapt the A mixture of native plant species and structure helps to principles to his/ attract native wildlife Common Grasses of Tasmania An Agriculturalists’ her own local area. Peter Grant Guide Peter claims that the key principle is to grow plants that Peter Lane, Dennis Morris, occur naturally in your own area. “That way you’re Gillian Shannon helping to re-create habitats which were once wide- This book is about the spread in your local area. It’s all about favouring the more common grasses in locals. Most of us are happy to help out our native Tasmania and includes species if we know how. Hopefully this book will show us descriptions of native, how to start that in our own back-yards.” introduced pasture and The manuscript, which was 18 months in the introduced weed species. It preparation, is currently with the ABC editors. It’s due to is a valuable reference for hatch into book form some time next year. the identification of grasses in the agricultural districts Bird Observers of Australia www.birdobservers.org.au of Tasmania well as being a The Bird Observers of Australia’s Web Site has a good great general guide. By page of tips and practical advice a wide range of topics. It matching specimens to the covers the construction of artificial nest boxes and the photographs and drawings benefits of providing bird habitat in your garden verses in the book, little or no A great guide to Tasmania’s more providing an artificial food source (see Feeding Wildlife botanical knowledge is common grasses A case to answer – Issue 3). It also examines what you required to identify many Peter Grant should know about providing water in your garden for grasses. Those with greater knowledge can also make use birds as well as information on bird sightings, of the botanical descriptions which cover both vegetative conservation projects, books and caring for wildlife. and flowering characteristics. Comments are also Bushcare Tasmania www.bushcare.tas.gov.au included on the habitat, agricultural importance and similar species for each grass. Wild Country Project www.wilderness.org.au then go to WildCountry link Available from the Tasmanian Environment Centre, 102 Bathurst St Hobart for $11.00. Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002 Page 11 Land for Wildlife Courses, Field Days & Events

Extension Officers 26 Dec - 4 Feb Summer activities are run by the Parks and Wildlife Service in national parks and other locations around Coordinator Tasmania. Phone 6233 6191 or 6233 6197. Sean Cadman Dec - Feb Hobart City Council are conducting a program of DPIWE - Phone: 6336 5419 walks, talks and bushland activities for all ages. Bookings are required. Phone 6238 2886. North East 7 - 8 January Summer Rangers in the Bay of Fires Camping Area* Helen Morgan 15 January Binalong Bay Whale Rescue Training Day DPIWE - Phone: 6336 5427 Contact Charles Ibbizzy Summer Camping Ranger 0419 140 882 North West 16 - 19 January Flinders Island Sand Sculpting Weekend Bill Walker Contact Judith Reid 6359 4545 or [email protected] Cradle Coast Authority - Phone: 6431 7219 January Walk along Adventure Bay Beach, Bruny Island• Far South Date to be confirmed Andy Baird January Bats about the Mountain (late January) Greening Australia - Phone: 6223 6377 Contact Andrew Welling 20 - 24 January Coastcare Shorebird Activities Tasman Peninsula• Central South 21 - 22 January Summer Rangers in the Bay of Fires Camping Area* Andrew Welling 4 February Summer Rangers in the Bay of Fires Camping Area* Greening Australia - Phone: 6223 6377 5 February Exploring the Beach – An exciting hands-on INDOOR Central North & Midlands Coastcare activity which is for children. Contact Jenny Joanne Lyall Marsden at the Wynyard-Waratah Council Phone 6442 0333 Tasmanian Landcare Association *Contact Freycinet National Park for details of activities - Phone 6256 7000 Phone: 6336 5265 •Contact Mel Fazackerley for more information 6233 6147 Land for Wildlife Program: Vision, Mission and Goals

Vision Land for Wildlife contributes to a healthy and diverse ecosystem. Land owners and land managers integrate the principles and practices Information is gathered and shared, learning about managing for of nature conservation into overall land management. nature conservation on unreserved land is facilitated. Mission Immediate Land for Wildlife encourages and facilitates voluntary nature Existing community networks are involved and expanded. conservation by: There is broad community participation in Land for Wildlife. • building on existing community networks; Adequate resources are provided to the Land for Wildlife program. • sharing information and learning; Land owners and land managers are given support and their voluntary • supporting and recognising land owners and managers; and contributions to nature conservation on unreserved land are recognised. • having nature conservation principles put into practice on unreserved land. The numbers of land owners and land managers participating in Land for Wildlife increase. Goals There are adequate distribution of and connections between native Long term and medium term habitats managed for nature conservation to ensure viability of populations of native plants and animals. Nature Conservation principles are applied and practices are integrated with overall land management. A comprehensive, integrated database of information is established, maintained and is accessible. Land for Wildlife contributes to ecologically, economically and socially sustainable property management. Source: Land for Wildlife (Tasmania) Implementation Plan 1998

If undelivered return to: Back issues (volume 1, volume 2 and volume 3) of the Land for Land for Wildlife Support Officer Wildlife News are now available. If you would like a copy of GPO Box 44 these early editions, please contact the Land for Wildlife Hobart, Tas 7001 Support Offcer at the address provided. Phone: (03) 6233 2852 (Mondays and Tuesdays) Fax: (03) 6224 0884 Email: [email protected] Please contact the authors before reproducing material from this newsletter. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the policies of the Bushcare Program, the Land for Wildlife Program or the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.

Page 12 Land for Wildlife News, Vol. 4, December 2002